Coach said "GO!" and we were off. From the start of the race, around the fields, and into the woods I was in 6th place. It was all 4 runners from my team, one from Northbridge, and me. I went a little faster when we took the first right in the woods, trying to catch up to my teamates. Between then, and the area after the 2nd hill (where you take a right to go on a rooty part then up a hill,) I was in 8th.
The order was; 1. Andre/Tyson 3. Northbridge/Schuler 5. Northbridge/Northbridge 7. James 8. Sapunka (me)
James started to slow down and told me to pass him. I knew I would have to pick it up for the team. I did. I kept the 2 Northbridge runners close, no more than 20 yards in front of me. I picked up my pace a little at a time, and started to close the gap. Eventually, they separated and one got 10 yards in front of the other. By this time I'd closed the gap to 10 yards.
It dawned on me that I was doing good when I passed the log next to the path that leads to the bridge. That log meant we weren't far from getting out of the woods. Thats where I made my first move. I'd noticed the runner's pace wasn't consistent, so I knew I would just have to get in front of him and maintain that position for maybe 30 yards, and he'd be done for the rest of the race. I did just that and then I made my move for the next guy.
By the time I arrived at the last left turn to go out of the woods, I realized that those runners weren't going to have a shot at passing me. When I came out of the woods I noticed Schuler and a Northbridge runner were about 15 yards away. I normally pick it up here anyways, and today was no different. Midway through the parking lot, I passed them with relative ease.
As I entered the track, I was greeted by many cheers from teamates, parents, and friends. That carried me into the first turn. I pushed myself out of the turn and onto the straightaway. I could still hear the cheers and I still kept driving on. As I entered the final turn of the track, the amount of cheering I heard increased and my speed was as high as it could go after nearly 3 miles. I finished strong, took the popsicle stick from Patrick, read the number 3 on it, and let a smile spread across my face.
Best time last year at Oxford: 19:57. Today's time: 18:13 for 2.6 miles. 7:00 pace.
Oxford wins the meet 18-47 after sweeping positions 1-4.
I had a bad run. I'd been battling with a Grafton runner the whole race, and he ended up beating me. He made a move right where you're supposed to, and I responded too late. I tried getting him in the fields but I kicked too late in that area as well.
21:00 for 2.96 miles. 7:05 pace.
About 7 runners passed me in the hills portion of our course. When the hills were done and things flattened out, I passed most of those runners. I know my course better than they do, and it worked to my advantage in a big way.
When I came out of the woods, I could see 3-4 runners about 20 yards in front of me. I passed 2 in the parking lot, and another early on the track.
Coming out of the first turn of the track, about 5 yards in front of me was a Shepherd Hill runner and Schuler was in front of him. I started to kick on the back straightaway. I caught up to him by the start of the last turn, and he tried to get away from me. I saw that he might catch Schuler and I yelled "Schuler... GO!" I wasn't giving up, I was still trying to catch the Shepherd Hill runner. Halfway through the turn I passed him. Schuler had kicked just like I told him to, and he finished maybe 5 seconds before me. I beat the Shepherd Hill runner.
17:57 for 2.6 miles. 6:54 pace. 17 seconds better than last race at home.
22:13 for 3.1. 7:10 pace.
I pushed the beggining until the hill and I was still going pretty good. When I got to the hill, I attacked it. By the time we got 3/4 of the way up the hill, it was having a small effect as a few runners slowly passed me. Once I arrived at the near top of the hill, I started to pick it up because I knew it was a breeze from there to the finish line.
From the start of the downhill until about a quarter mile to go, there was a Millbury runner about 150 meters in front of me. When I saw the railroad crossing sign, I knew that it was time to make a move. I knew it would be tough to get a guy that far in front of me with such little distance left. There was nobody close behind me. I knew that if I hit the wall between where I was and the finish, it would be fine because nobody would pass me.
I gave it everything and caught him with about 65 meters left. At this point, I was really hoping he didn't have anything left, because I didn't have much more to beat him in a sprint. Luckly for me, he was done as soon as I passed him.
I felt great after I finished. This was the best I've ever felt after a race. The shin splints don't hurt as much. I wouldn't mind running this course again Thursday against Southbridge, since it will still be raining. Either way, I'm looking forward to it. Things seem like they're getting better for me.
I finished 12th overall, 4th for Oxford. 19:51 for 2.8. 7:05 pace.
He passed me with about 200 left and I moved in front of him, and he got the spot right back. I tried as hard as I could but I didn't have anything left. I'd been pushing in the street to keep my pace, which could have easily taken away from what I could have had at the end.
We won the meet 19-41. I ran a 19:29 for 2.85 miles. 6:50 pace.
Last dual meet is Thursday at home against Southbridge and Bay Path. After, we have the Wachusett Invitational on Saturday, and SWCL Meet next Thursday.
This new course started the same way. When you got to the steep hill in the woods, you didn't take a left and keep going in the woods. Instead, you went straight and came out behind the cemetary. Then, you run to the start, do it again, and finish on the track.
I finished 8th overall, 6th for Oxford. On the 2nd loop, I started to pick it up at the soccer field. I caught up to a Bay Path runner by the time we got to the other side of the field and battled with him until we went down into the woods. He slowed just just a tad bit and I capitalized. I made my move right then and there, and I made a big move. I put about 15 yards between us on that downhill section of the woods. Nobody passed me from there to the finish. Dan beat the Bat Path runner as well, and finished not too far behind me. 18:30 for whatever.
16:12 for 2.4 miles. 6:45 pace
But never mind that... After the first loop it was me, Dan and Pat all running together, with James way in front of us and Schuler in front of him. Coach yelled at us to get catch up to James. I accepted the challenge and picked up the pace. I closed the gap but it was still very big. I kept going at the new pace for the rest of the race. With about 200-300 meters left, as we came out of the woods I heard someone's coach yelling at them to beat me.
No way I'm gonna let that happen... I finished 50th with a 14:03 for 2.13 miles. 6:36 pace. Andre finished 10th, Tyson came in at 11th. Oxford finished 5th. We beat all the teams we beat in the regular season, plus Quabog and Auburn.